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From: jules@zen.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: HP-28C (HP82240A)
Message-ID: <592@zen.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 29-Mar-87 06:16:01 EST
Article-I.D.: zen.592
Posted: Sun Mar 29 06:16:01 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 31-Mar-87 04:20:30 EST
References: <44700002@uicsrd> <2790003@hpsgpa.HP.COM>
Reply-To: jules@zen.UUCP (Julian Perry)
Organization: Zengrange Limited, Leeds, England
Lines: 52

In article <2790003@hpsgpa.HP.COM> daver@hpsgpa.HP.COM (Dave Rabinowitz) writes:
>A printer is an interesting device from this point of view, since it provides
>instant feedback via the user.  The printer was designed to be reliable and
>inexpensive.  The IR range was deliberately limited to avoid the problem of
>interference between two calculators being used on adjacent desks.  Each byte
>of data has an additional 4 bits of error-correction code which will correct
>single-bit and many double-bit errors and detect most other errors.  In
>addition, there are several levels of redundancy in the encoding of individual
>bits to make the printer as immune as possible to outside interference.

Why aren't there check codes for complete  lines, or even better,  large
blocks  of data, so that when the  printer  notices  something  wrong it
could  flash  one of its  LED's to say  that an  error  has  occurred  ?
Another idea might be to have sequence  codes in with each block of data
so that the printer can spot a missing block.


>Accidentally placing paper between the calculator and printer is equivalent to
>accidentally pulling out the cable between a wired calculator and printer.  ..

WHAT?  They might be equivalent  in terms of data loss, but not in terms
likelihood of happening.

>..........................................................................  The
>printer was designed to be easy to use and inexpensive (compare the price to
>the older HP printers), and it is.  It is also capable and reliable, in the HP
>tradition.

Admittedly the printer is (by HP standards) reasonably  inexpensive, but
that is no  excuse  for it being  (like  the 18C and 28C) not up to HP's
normally  very  high  standards.  I, and most  other  people  who buy HP
calculators and hand-held computers, expect to pay more for them because
they are better made, more  reliable,  well designed and tend to do just
about  anything  you  want  them  to.  The  HP-41  has all of the  above
features  (including  a high price tag) and it has sold over a  million.
Is that such a bad formula to try and stick to.

If HP are not  careful  then  they  will end up  producing  the same old
boring cheap and nasty calculators that everybody else does.

By the way, PLEASE DON'T DITCH RPN, anyone who has used it wouldn't  buy
anything  else and it is  sickening to see a trend in HP towards the AOS
system.  Owners of HP  calculators  must be the most loyal of users, but
they won't be if HP's commitment to RPN doesn't continue.

Jules

-- 
IN-REAL-LIFE:  Julian Perry           
E-MAIL:        jules@zen.co.uk || ...!mcvax!ukc!zen.co.uk!jules
PHONE:         +44 532 489048 ext 217
ADDRESS:       Zengrange Limited, Greenfield Road, Leeds, England, LS9 8DB